Dunstanborough Castle c. 19th century

Curator: Immediately striking is the somber mood, a kind of melancholic grandeur. Editor: Indeed. This is Charles Turner's "Dunstanborough Castle," held in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: Note how the sepia tones evoke a sense of history and antiquity, almost like looking at a faded photograph. Editor: The castle, perched high, signifies power, but the broken structures and the rough, dark landscape suggest decay and the transience of authority. It also speaks to England's vulnerability during a time of perceived threats, an island nation. Curator: The composition leads the eye upward, but the dark foreground of rocks and water creates a visual barrier, an impediment to easy access. There is a contrast of light and dark creating an unsettling image. Editor: It is fascinating how Turner uses the historical subject to reflect anxieties of his own time. Curator: Yes, it captures the sublime in the picturesque, a balance between beauty and terror. Editor: A fine example of how art engages with social narrative.